I flew into Phoenix, and then got right on my next flight to Las Vegas where my dad and Uncle Wes were there and nice enough to feed my starving belly and give me a ride home.
I had heard the night before I flew home that there was going to be a performance and I was invited to participate. I knew that I hadn't played that harp forever-- my celtic one, as my normal harp that I play with was still in El Paso as it wouldn't fit in the plane's overhead compartment, so I was concerned about there even being enough strings on it, and even more concerned by the fact that I hadn't played with my family for about a year! And we had no time to all rehearse together-- and I knew that they had kind of rearranged some of our songs to exclude the harp part ;( as I wasn't there playing with them throughout the year and they had to improvise to be able to cover all the parts. So, no way was I going to get home from traveling all day, and go strait to a performance and make myself look like I was clueless at what I was doing, and make this beautiful thing that they had look bad.
I got home and had about 10 min to tune the harp and go over a couple things with Brit. . . . then we had to get to our concert.
I don't know how they talked me into it, but before I knew it I was on stage trying to pick my brain apart and remember what all of our songs were, how they started, what key they were in..... haha I couldn't believe I was actually going through with this. I think what it all came down to was who we were performing for. The McArthur family owns the "Temple View RV Park"-- they are the neatest family! They have had us come and play for them about every year since we started our band-- like 12 years or so. I think they were our first paying gig, and there are some of the same people there every year that have literally watched us grow up performing for them. Each time we perform there they always are so gracious, and make us feel so special. As I was contemplating making an appearance, I thought about the last time I had performed there... it was the night I left my family and life in Utah and flew to my new home, New York City. I remember performing there thinking that it was the last time I'd be playing with my family for a very long time, and I think that I'd never realized until that night how lucky I'd been to have the experience of performing with my family, and I couldn't believe how much I was going to miss that. Those people that we'd performed for were so excited for me, and so supportive. I left straight from there, went home and unpacked the car full of instruments, and replaced them with my suitcases. We all packed in and drove together down to Las Vegas McCarran Airport, and I did the hardest thing I'd ever done in my whole life. I said goodbye, not having a clue what was ahead of me, but knowing that this was something I needed to do-- no matter how impossible it felt. I couldn't stop crying as I sat at my gate thinking, " What am I doing!!!" but as the night went on, I witnessed little miracle after miracle confirming that I was suppose to be doing this.
I thought a lot about this experience as I was home, and thought so much about Brittan, and him having to say goodbye to all of us. He's so much braver than I was!
Thinking about ALL of this... how could I not go perform that night. I was more scared than I've been in a long time performing, but it actually ended up being such an awesome performance-- I'm still flabbergasted at how we all managed to pull it off so crisp! It was one of our most solid performances ever--- so crazy!
My mom was asked to be on a committee with some influential women in scouting and was asked by Sister Nadauld-(her husband is the president of DSC and she was a past General Young Womens President) if my family would be willing to perform throughout the dinner and that Tara and I do a special musical number. The guest speaker of the night was Sister Lant, who just got released as the General Primary President. It was such a neat night-- and such a cool tribute to all of these women who have served for so many years in the scouting program. We were thrilled to be a part of such an amazing event.
Sunday was Brittan's farewell and he'd asked me and Tara to play for it. He gave the neatest talk, it was just sooo cool! We had a ton of our family and friends there-- so good to have the support of so many loved ones.
Tara had a big performance with Dixie State College up in Salt Lake City where the Arts Department was going to perform at the Capital Theater for the State Legislature. This was to give them an opportunity to show them what's going on at Dixie and how amazing all of their programs really are... in hopes of warrantying more funding ;) When they found out I was home for a couple weeks, they asked me if I could help them out and play the harp with them-- which I was glad to do, but was now committing to several rehearsals up until the day of the performance, and that would be a drive up and back in the same day-- knowing that the following day we'd be driving up with Brittan to Provo, escorting him to the MTC.
I hadn't performed with a Symphony since before I left for New York-- and I had already played this song they were performing up there before, Jupiter-- it was gorgeous. Also, I'd not done a lot of fun things like that while I was in college, and it would be fun knowing I was going to be able to go up with Tara and to be able to spend time with her-- plus, it would be helping them out, so why not?
I was suppose to be up and start loading the harp at about 6:30am. I'd set a million alarms on my phone, because I've been doing some training for our home based business we're just starting and wasn't able to get to bed until really late. So I wake up to Tara calling me at about 6:45 saying, "Are you already here?" I looked at the clock and totally started freaking out!!! I hadn't even packed my stuff I was planning on taking up, and all of my concert black attire and I had to get dressed and ready and be up to the college by the time the buses left... at 7:00am. So my parents hear me going crazy downstairs and run down to help me get everything ready-- my superhero's! Then mom gives me a ride up to the college-- I felt like I was a little kid again, having my mom drop me off-- haha but I couldn't have been more grateful for her and my dad helping me get there before it was too late. The charter buses were all packed up and ready to go-- there were 5 or so of them. Tara had saved a seat for me, and they'd already taken care of the harp. Surprisingly enough, I was not the last person there---
It was a good long drive. I tried sleeping most of the time but was surrounded by all these little college kids. I can't ever remember being so young!!! haha I forgot how much kids flirt in college with each other, and how loud and dramatic they all are-- this was a very good reminder. I had taken a Benadryl for my allergies... which knocked me out in no time---- thank goodness!
We finally got to the Capital Theater in Salt Lake City-- it was gorgeous! We had rehearsals really quick and then had the rest of the afternoon to walk around until dinner... and then our performance shortly after. It was FREEZING cold and the smarty I am only wore flip flopps-- there was like snow on the ground-- I totally wasn't thinking. So Tara and I went to look for some warm place to rest because it was like 4 degrees outside and we were totally numb. We finally found a Starbucks!!! I got a muffin and some Apple Cider-- and Tara got a treat and Hot Chocolate. We were there for about an hour, afraid to go back into the cold again. . . although it was inevetable- we knew we'd have to eventually.
Tara had to be back extra early because she had to perform for the reception that was being held in the foryer, and I had to get the harp tuned.
I swear Starbucks never tasted sooo good!!!
The Symphony let me borrow their harp since I'd left mine in El Paso. Can you believe they fit this in a PT Cruiser?~ yea me neither.
This theater was Gorgeous! Travis drove up after he'd gotten off work, and picked up our buddy Maren in Provo, because she wanted to come to see the performance, and then Travis' sister, Jessica lived right up the street, from the theater, so she came along too!
This was right before our number-- don't we look soooo excited!!!
I kept taking pictures of this place all day-- and Tara swore it would look a million times better at night. On our way out, I'd almost forgotten-- I told everybody I'd catch up but I HAD to take a picture-- Trav said no, but Tara told him that we had to wait because I'd been waiting all day for this picture. Trav grabbed my camera and said, "Well then, you'd better be in it then."
Tara was right-- it looked so much better at night.
Travis drove us home so we didn't have to ride back on the bus-- it was nice and everything, but THANK YOU Trav!!!
We got home at about 3-- I did more training and then woke up at 7:00 to head back up to Provo. Tara's teacher wouldn't let her come :( but she would have if she could.
I was glad to be able to spend time with the fam on our drive up-- the whole drive was kind of our"Goodbye" to Brittan. We had some neat discussions, and good talks.
Here's the Provo Temple just a block away from the MTC:
It was so pretty there!
Our last 5 min. with Brittan...
Such a brave kid! He said his quick goodbye, and that was it.
We turned around and came straight back home-- it really was a beautiful drive.
I got to spend time with Jordan the next morning (she's my niece, her mom is Fuzz's sister KenDe.) We had so much fun together!
When we'd gotten home from the MTC, we pulled up into the driveway and I received a text from DeAnn, that Fuzz's Grandma had just passed away. She'd had Pneumonia and had just gone down hill from there for about 3 weeks or so. We were so sad for our loss-- she was such a neat lady, but we know that she isn't suffering anymore and she's with her sweetheart that had passed away about 20 years ago.
Fuzz was able to come home for the funeral-- but because of some complications with the Army transporting them all back from the desert-- he'd missed all of his flights, and had to drive the whole way here straight through the night.
He made it!!! He dedicated the grave, and gave the most beautiful prayer-- we were so glad he was able to make it and give such a special blessing at her grave site.
I dare say that this was one of the most incredible funerals I'd ever been to. It was such a neat tribute to Karma and celebration of her life. There were so many neat stories told about her-- we were so lucky to have known such an amazing person. They had Tara and I perform at it, which we were honored to do. It was so hard not to get choked up while we were playing, because it was such an emotional day-- but we made it through it! I was grateful to have been able to be a part of such a neat event. I came away from that funeral thinking ,"I want to live my like more like Karma did." She was such a great example.
Everyone loved Grandma.
The Relief Society of Grandma Sorenson's ward organized a funeral luncheon for the family and close friends. It was amazing! They did such a great job.
Fuzz's nieces were so excited to have Fuzz home!!! They always tackle him-- one of these days they'll get him down.
With Fuzz in town, we were able to go to the Temple together. We went bright and early one morning, and couldn't believe how many people had beaten us there! It really was increadible how many people were there so early! We were so grateful to have been able to go there while we were home. It was the neatest thing to be able to go to the temple-- every time we go, we leave thinking, "When can we come back!" It is surely one of our greatest blessings.
We were able to participate in a Temple Prep class last night with a young couple that is wants to take their small family there and be sealed. We were so grateful to be able to be a part of that meeting and share our excitement for them, and of the temple. I felt like it was impossible for me to even verbalize the love that is felt there, and the importance of having a Temple Marriage. It's something that I hope we'll never take for granted-- just so special.
Well Fuzz came home the other day---- and surprise! As if I haven't had enough of those lately... He's going to be leaving the Army months earlier than we'd planned-- probably the first week or so in April!!!! As opposed to August- which is what we'd been planning. His unit is deploying so they wanted to get those that weren't coming with them kind of out of the way. We'll probably be heading back to Utah to stay with family until the fall when school starts-- Fuzz just put in his application for Texas Tech University!!! We just toured the campus last week and loved it! We were able to meet with a Realtor and tour some homes in that area that we've been looking at online-- one in particular that we're seriously looking into...
This should be a crazy next month or so for us!!! I'm sure we'll be writing about lots more of our wild adventures soon ;)
